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The top daily fantasy hockey lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on October 12, 2024. Andy's NHL DFS goalies, forward line stacks, and defensemen.
Hello Rotoballers! The NHL season is back in full swing and we have our first action-packed Saturday slate of the season.
In this piece, I will discuss my favorite forward lines to target, defensemen, and goalies in tonight's action. Be sure to keep updated with any injury notes on our newsfeed before setting your lineup.
If you have any questions about further strategy and managing the slate, feel free to chat with me on X @ASmith_FS. All player salaries will be listed as ($DK/FD)
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Forward Lines To Target - NHL DFS Picks
New York Rangers L2 - Alexis Lafreniere ($4,800/6,400) - Vincent Trocheck ($6,300/8,100) - Artemi Panarin ($7,600/8,600)
Opponent - Utah Hockey Club
My first line to target this evening was one of the best offensive lines last season. Led by Artemi Panarin, this Ranger line generated an impressive 3.13 xGoals for 60 minutes last season, according to MoneyPuck, which was one of the top marks in the sport. All forwards enjoyed the best seasons of their careers, with Panarin scoring an incredible 120 points.
In their home opener, they will welcome the Utah Hockey Club, who have allowed the eighth-highest expected goal total this season. Through their first two games, they have allowed six goals, including four to the New York Islanders on Thursday evening.
Alexis Lafrenière: Really good at hockey 😎🌟
Disgusting toe drag snipe for his first of the year 🚨🤢
(📹: @NHL) pic.twitter.com/ztWkisaDjm
— BarDown (@BarDown) October 10, 2024
The Rangers dismantled the Pittsburgh Penguins in their season opener and should be able to do the same against an even weaker Utah club.
Toronto Maple Leafs L1 - Mitch Marner ($6,100/8,300) - Auston Matthews ($9,800/8,800) - Matthew Knies ($3,500/4,000)
Opponent- Pittsburgh Penguins
After getting shut out in their season opener, Toronto bounced back in their second game by defeating the New Jersey Devils 4-2.
However, the top line has yet to get on the scoresheet but has very strong underlying metrics and has a great matchup this evening to break out of their minor slump.
The top unit, led by Auston Matthews, has been a force to be reckoned with, generating the fifth-highest expected goals among forward lines in the sport. Their impressive 42-shot attempts rank second-highest in the league, making them a safe play with high upside.
This evening, they face the Pittsburgh Penguins, who hold the third-highest Expected Goals Against mark of 5.95 per MoneyPuck. They will likely face Tristan Jarry, who surrendered six goals in their opener.
Edmonton Oilers L1 - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins ($5,500/7,300) - Connor McDavid ($9,500/9,000) - Zach Hyman ($7,500/8,100)
Opponent - Chicago Blackhawks
Connor McDavid and the Oilers were kept off the scoresheet in their first game as Connor Hellebuyck stopped all 30 shots he saw.
However, they have an excellent opportunity to get themselves back on track and avoid another early-season slump they went through last season. On Saturday, they will face the Chicago Blackhawks, who held a 2.83 Expected Goals against per 60 last season, which is the third-highest mark.
They already had a tough start this season, allowing five goals to the Utah Hockey Club on Tuesday night.
Last season, this Oilers line held the highest 66.6 xGoal% per MoneyPuck among forward lines who played at least 200 minutes together.
The alternative to McDavid’s line is the second line in Edmonton, centered by Leon Draisaitl and flanked by Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner. Both will be very popular but possess some of the highest upside on the slate.
Florida Panthers L1 - Carter Verhaeghe ($7,200/7,600) - Alexsander Barkov ($7,200/7,900) - Sam Reinhart ($7,700/8,100)
Opponent - Buffalo Sabres
My final forward line to target is the top unit of the reigning Stanley Cup Champions. This line was very involved in their season-opening victory over the Boston Bruins, with Reinhart finding the back of the net twice. In their second game, they were held off the scoresheet due to an impressive showing by Ottawa goaltender Linus Ullmark.
Looking under the hood, this line boasts a 64.3% xGoals rate and 3.64 xGoals per 60 minutes per MoneyPuck, both well above the average marks. Last season, this line generated a stellar 66.3 xGoal% percentage, which was second among all forward lines who logged at least 200 minutes of ice time together.
They will face the Buffalo Sabres, which have allowed the fifth-highest 5.48 expected goals against this season
Note: Barkov will not suit up tonight with an ankle injury. Anton Lundell will likely see top minutes and becomes a viable play.
Other Top Lines To Target (Cash/GPP):
- COL L1
- NYR L1
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Defensemen To Target - NHL DFS Picks
Evan Bouchard - Edmonton Oilers ($6,600/6,600)
Opponent - Chicago Blackhawks
Coming off a career season in which he tallied 18 goals and 64 assists, Evan Bouchard will be quite popular this evening, and rightfully so, in a favorable matchup.
Oilers Evan Bouchard
4th defenceman in NHL history with 30 points in a single postseason pic.twitter.com/reXF9cMSd2
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) June 19, 2024
On one of the top power plays last season, Bouchard tallied an impressive 33 points in 5-on-4 situations, the third-highest among defensemen. The Oilers should be in position to put a lot of pucks in the back of the net and Bouchard should be generating much of it from the point.
Erik Gustafsson - Detroit Red Wings ($2,500/4,100)
Opponent - Nashville Predators
Last season, Erik Gustafsson was the quarterback of one of the league’s top power-play units when Adam Fox went down with a knee injury. He tallied 31 total points, with 25 of them coming off assists.
The 32-year-old signed a two-year contract with Detroit this offseason and earned top minutes on their particular team unit over defenseman Mortiz Seider.
In their season opener, Gustafsson tallied an assist on Alex DeBrincat’s power-play goal and was deployed as the point man on the top power-play unit for over five minutes.
Even though he will face a tough goalie in Juuse Saros, he could get on the scoresheet, especially given his special team opportunities.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson - Toronto Maple Leafs ($3,200/4,00)
Opponent - Pittsburgh Penguins
Another defenseman I am targeting is Oliver Ekman-Larsson of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Larson has logged 2:33 minutes on the power play through his first two games and generated an impressive 2.19 xGF in 5-on-5 play, according to Natural Stat Trick. On the scoresheet, he has tallied one assist with six shots on goal.
Even though he has not been part of the top powerplay unit, he has provided a spark offensively and is a nice contrarian option to the popular Toronto defenseman pick, Morgan Riley.
As mentioned before, the Penguins have struggled defensively, which should present Toronto with several opportune scoring changes throughout the evening.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Erik Karlsson - Pittsburgh Penguins ($5,400/6,300)
- Aaron Ekblad - Florida Panthers ($3,900/6,100)
- Samuel Girard/Cale Maker - Colorado Avalanche ($3,300/4,000)/($8,300/7,900)
Goalies To Target - NHL DFS Picks
Jake Oettinger - Dallas Stars ($8,200/8,300)
Opponent - New York Islanders
Jake Oettinger had a strong showing on Thursday during his season debut. He stopped 32 of 35 shots en route to defeating the Nashville Predators.
Last season, Oettinger took a step back, posting a career-low .905 save percentage, but he still plays behind one of the top defensive teams in the league.
JAKE OETTINGER pic.twitter.com/fTCn2NDB8S
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) May 24, 2024
This evening, he will face the New York Islanders, who generated an underwhelming 1.08 Expected Goals For, in their season debut against a weak Utah defensive unit.
Alexander Georgiev - Colorado Avalanche ($8,400/8,400)
Opponent - Columbus Blue Jackets
The 28-year-old had a disappointing season debut. He was pulled early from the game against the Las Vegas Golden Knights after he allowed five goals on just 16 shots. However, he has an excellent opportunity to put that outing in the rearview mirror on Saturday when he faces a weak Columbus offense.
The Blue Jackets currently sit with the fifth-lowest expected goal total, a small improvement from their bottom-ten finish last season.
There is a risk, but the matchup is quite favorable.
Others To Consider (CASH/GPP):
- Igor Shesterkin - New York Rangers ($8,300/$8,500)
- Dan Vladar - Calgary Flames ($7,700/7,700)
NHL DFS Value Line Stacks of the Day
- COL L3
- NYR L3
- FLA L3
- PHI L2
NHL DFS News and Injury Alerts
More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis
